History · Macau · China
7 historic sites to see in Macau
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Ruins of St. Paul's, A-Ma Temple and Monte Fort and Macau Museum. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 6–6 hours across 3 areas; 6 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 6
- Time to see them all
- 6–6 hours
- Areas
- Senado Square and the Historic Centre, Barra and the Inner Harbour and Guia Hill
Historic sites in Macau
Historic site · Senado Square and the Historic Centre
1.Ruins of St. Paul's
Reached by a wide flight of 68 steps, it mixes Christian imagery with Chinese and Japanese motifs, and a small crypt and museum of sacred art sit behind it.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- After dark
Religious site · Barra and the Inner Harbour
2.A-Ma Temple
Its pavilions climb a rocky slope among boulders carved with inscriptions and hung with giant incense coils.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Museum · Senado Square and the Historic Centre
3.Monte Fort and Macau Museum
Paul's with cannons on its ramparts. Inside, the Macau Museum covers the city's history, Chinese and Portuguese traditions and daily life, including a recreated street of old shops.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
- Kids
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Historic site · Guia Hill
4.Guia Fortress and Lighthouse
A short cable car climbs from Flora Garden, and jogging trails ring the hill.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Views
- Free
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Senado Square and the Historic Centre
5.St. Dominic's Church
Its bell tower houses a small museum of sacred art with statues, vestments and liturgical silver.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
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Historic site · Barra and the Inner Harbour
6.Mandarin's House
Its restored rooms, moon gates and courtyards mix Chinese layout with Western details such as Indian-style ceilings and French windows.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Historic site · Barra and the Inner Harbour
7.Lilau Square
Banyan trees shade old houses, and the nearby Moorish Barracks, built in 1874 for Indian soldiers, have arched verandas.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Senado Square and the Historic Centre | Ruins of St. Paul's, Monte Fort and Macau Museum and St. Dominic's Church | 45 minutes + 1.5 hours + 30 minutes |
| Barra and the Inner Harbour | A-Ma Temple, Mandarin's House and Lilau Square | 45 minutes + 1 hour + 30 minutes |
| Guia Hill | Guia Fortress and Lighthouse | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 6 free, 1 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Monte Fort and Macau Museum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Senado Square and the Historic Centre and Barra and the Inner Harbour): Ruins of St. Paul's → Monte Fort and Macau Museum → St. Dominic's Church → A-Ma Temple → Mandarin's House, at least 5 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Barra and the Inner Harbour and Guia Hill): Lilau Square → Guia Fortress and Lighthouse, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- January: highs of 18°C (64°F), about 5 rainy days, moderate crowds. Cool, dry and often sunny; comfortable for walking, though evenings call for a jacket.
- March: highs of 21°C (70°F), about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds. Humid, often foggy with drizzle; pleasant enough for sightseeing between showers.
- April: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm and muggy with rising rainfall; temple festivals honour Tin Hau and A-Ma.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Senado Square and the Historic Centre — Wave-patterned Portuguese paving, baroque churches and old shophouses
- Barra and the Inner Harbour — Temple, mansions and old trading streets on the peninsula's southwest tip
More of Macau
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Macau?
Ruins of St. Paul's. The carved stone façade of the 17th-century Church of Mater Dei is all that survived a fire in 1835.
+Which of these are free in Macau?
Ruins of St. Paul's, A-Ma Temple, Guia Fortress and Lighthouse, St. Dominic's Church, Mandarin's House and Lilau Square.